Mayors of Lansdale and North Wales say context, history, scale and design matter when comparing downtowns, make each Main Street distinct
Lansdale and North Wales are two communities that, on paper, should be very similar to each other. We’re both on the historic North Pennsylvania Railroad line, we were both established in the same post Civil War period, and we both have a Main Street.
If you read the Knight Crier’s January 29th article (subsequently picked up by North Penn Now), you’d be forgiven for thinking there’s a “correct” choice.
In their article, the author talked about the variety of businesses along our respective Main Streets. It’s true - North Wales’ Main Street is smaller and shorter than Lansdale’s Main Street.
The author missed a huge opportunity to provide vital context for readers. In reading the article, someone may think both of the Main Streets are somehow equal in all other respects. It’s the contextual differences that matter.
North Wales’ Main Street is tiny, coming in at 1,469 feet long measured from the railroad tracks by North Penn Volunteer Fire Company to Beaver Street.
Lansdale, by comparison, has 1.07 miles of Main Street if you measure it from Line Street to Valley Forge Road. This means Lansdale has 284% more commercial space than North Wales.
Further - where Lansdale underwent various “modernization” efforts through its history that saw many of its historic buildings taken down to accommodate the businesses of the eras. North Wales didn’t see that level of change - many buildings that stood in the early 1900’s on Main Street North Wales still stand today.
Those modernization decisions have far-reaching impacts where Lansdale became a community that made it easy for cars to come into town and park your vehicle - North Wales’ lack of a modernization period meant that it retained its walkability focus which means it has fewer parking facilities for cars.
The article doesn’t even consider the rich commercial corridors that exist on North Wales’ Walnut and Beaver Streets and Lansdale’s Broad Street.
As Mayors - we’re supposed to be the chief cheerleaders of our communities. And we’re thrilled to have the partnerships of our respective Borough governments and two amazing organizations that support our Main Streets - Discover Lansdale and Main Street North Wales. We also reject the idea that one is better than another. Every community has amazing things to offer, from Lansdale’s amazing parks to North Wales’s new Arts and Cultural Center.
And as Mayors - we’re thrilled that young journalists are still picking up their pens and exploring the world around them.
Thank you
North Wales Borough Mayor Neil McDevitt & Lansdale Borough Mayor Rachael Bollens
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